Former Major League Baseball player and current head coach of the Binger-Oney High School baseball team Reggie Willits looks on as he watches his team warm up during pre game on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, in Binger, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

The Binger community voted Tuesday to approve a proposition that included renovations to historic Johnny Bench Field with a 68.4 percent vote in favor of raising the sales tax in the town by one cent.

Only 98 votes were tallied, but 67 voted in favor of the proposition.

The renovations are expected to total between $400,000 and $600,000, and superintendent Kirk Wilson said before the vote that he hoped they would be completed by the beginning of the fall season. It is still unclear when renovations will begin, though, as the city still has to legally go through a bidding process.

Binger-Oney coach Reggie Willits, however, was just pleased with the results Tuesday night.

“I think it's big. I think it really is,” Willits said. “It shows the commitment of the school system and the city council and the community. I think it's pretty major of a deal, especially in our neck of the woods.”

Incorporating the Johnny Bench Museum that is currently located in city hall into the stadium is also a key part of the renovations.

Binger-Oney — ranked No. 4 in Class A — just beat Class 4A No. 3 Weatherford 5-2 on Monday to improve to 14-7, just one season after winning just six games.

“In the past week we've seen our kids kind of grow up,” Willits said. “They've won some big games and that's something they haven't done in awhile. You're starting to see the kids, one, come together as a team and individually they are starting to get better. Something like this, it shows the kids (the community is behind them).”